The Cupertino Carnival 2017, a three-day festival featuring live music, entertainment, real amusement rides, jump houses/inflatables, games, arts and crafts, a wide variety of food and more at St. Joseph of Cupertino School and Parish; from Friday, September 15 through Sunday, September 17.
Admission is free; however, there is a cost for rides, games and food. Note: three to four tickets are required for each ride.

Free parking is available at Stevens Creek Blvd., beside the school ground and at Lazaneo Dr. beside Intero Realty. There will be a shuttle bus ferrying patrons between the Lazaneo Dr. parking lot and the carnival.

Saturdays in August is Free Outdoor Movie Nights at Saint James Park.
Movies are free and begin at dusk; about an hour before the film will be fun and games for kids of all ages. Also, costumes are encouraged – prizes to those who dress on theme.

Bring a blanket or low-chair to sit on.
You may bring your dog if Fido is “dog/people friendly”.
Bring food or purchase something from the food trucks.

A solar eclipse in which the moon passes between the sun and us. Those of us in California will see a partial eclipse. If you wish to see a total eclipse, head on up to Salem, Oregon.

Never look directly at the sun without appropriate eye protection. One way to safely view an eclipse of the sun including direct viewing is with eclipse glasses. Eclipse glasses are available from Amazon from about $8.00 to $18.00; also from Walmart online.

Check out NASA’s Eyes Eclipse 2017 Web Application. “In this interactive, web-based 3D simulation, you can click anywhere on the Earth to preview your view of the August 21st, 2017 total eclipse.” On the right under Explore the 2017 Solar Eclipse click Launch Interactive.

Opera San Jose has been busy preparing for its new season, and it’s time for us to start marking our calendars. Opening night is September 9, and the first show is Mozart’s Così fan tutte.

Thinking himself worldly and experienced, Don Alfonso decides to relieve his young friends, Ferrando and Gugliemo, of their faith in sexual fidelity. He challenges them to a bet, promising that within 24 hours their fiancées will prove unfaithful. Outraged, they accept, but find the challenge too painfully revealing and too difficult to withstand. Dressed in clown’s clothes, these young men break their own hearts and the hearts of their fiancées. A comedy that is a tragedy underneath is the perfect stuff for the uncanny genius of Mozart, so clearly revealed in this dazzling score.

There will be only six performances of this amazing show at the California Theatre, so check your calendar and buy your tickets now! Prices range from $10 for students, ages 25 and younger with a current student ID, and $56 to $176 for adults. Box office phone: 408-437-4450 or go to operasj.org.

Can’t make the show? Check out the preview!Così fan tutte Preview: August 29, 2017 from 12 – 1 p.m., California Theatre, 345 S. First Street in downtown San José; Free vocal preview with members of the cast. For information, call 408-437-4450.

For opera beginners (and pros!) there’s never a need to feel like a novice:Introduction to Opera: General Director Larry Hancock will present a free 45-minute talk to ticket holders about the opera at the California Theatre before each performance of Così fan tutte. The talk begins at 6:30pm prior to evening performances and at 1:30pm prior to Sunday matinees. No reservations required.

Palo Alto Players is currently presenting The Graduate, one of my favorite novellas by Charles Webb. Even for those who have never read the 1963 book by Charles Webb, or seen the film starring Dustin Hoffman, Mrs. Robinson’s stocking-ed leg is still an iconic image. The question here is can it work as a stage production?

Max Tachis inhabits Benjamin Braddock on stage as perfectly as young Dustin Hoffman did on film. I have seen the very talented Tachis in many shows now, and he was a large reason why I agreed to come review the show. There was absolutely no disappointment.

Betsy Kruse Craig plays boozy Mrs. Robinson and is just as sexy as Anne Bancroft. Her lines are delivered in a perfectly dry and deadpan manner, and she smoothly brings Mrs. Robinson from the unsatisfied alcoholic wife who finds a bit of fun with young Benjamin, to a deeply unlikable, caustic and resentful mother who is likely more jealous than protective of her daughter.

Raegena Raymond-Brunker plays Mrs. Braddock and was one of my favorites on Opening Night. Her looks of utter confusion and shrieks of surprise and despair made me laugh hysterically. She is entertaining every moment she is on stage and had me giggling constantly.

My guest’s favorite actor was Mark Novak who plays Mr. Robinson. He puts his all into the part, and his visceral outrage toward Benjamin was such that I was praying he wasn’t going to have a very real heart attack on stage. Kudos to you, Mark Novak, and please take care of your blood pressure when yelling at Benjamin – we want you around for future shows!

Special notice needs to be made for Karen M. Sanders, who plays the be-tasseled stripper. Her twirling breasts were a hilarious surprise when they appeared on stage and I applaud her courage and most especially, her talents.

These were my favorite performances, but all involved are talented and entertaining. I enjoyed the show immensely, and director Jeannie K. Smith has done a fantastic job. The stage design is on the simple side with quite a few changes to take us from Benjamin’s childhood bedroom to a hotel to a stripper bar to the iconic church scene, and the costume design very subtly but clearly mimics the film.

Now we go back to the question: does it work as a stage production? My problem is that I cannot definitively state that the entire essence of the novella comes through on stage, especially regarding the social commentary and satire. The production hits most of the highlights of the book and film, but I am so familiar with the work that I’m not clear if someone unfamiliar with it would enjoy it as much as I did. I can confidently state that if you are familiar with The Graduate (novella or film) that you will enjoy seeing your favorite characters brought to life again on stage by these talented actors. If you are not familiar with the work, I’m going to err on the positive side and say to give it a try – the very worst that will happen is you’ll spend a couple hours in a nicely air conditioned theater.

This summer from June 16 through September 1, Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk presents bands from the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s to play free concerts on the beach Friday nights. There will be two shows nightly at 6:30 pm and 8:30 pm.

Important Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk information:
“Access to the prime seating area begins at 4pm; no blankets or chairs are permitted in the roped-off areas before 4pm. The line formed on the beach will be given first priority for access to prime seating area.

Please limit blanket size to 3×5 feet per person, about the size of a beach towel. Only low-back chairs are allowed; high-back chairs will be required to move to the back of the beach area. Please allow others space and a good view.

Smoking is not permitted on the beach or Boardwalk. Alcohol and glass are prohibited on the beach. Recording of concerts is not allowed.

Accommodations for guests with disabilities at the Friday Night Concerts are provided on a “first-come, first-served” basis in two locations. One section is reserved for guests who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. The other section is reserved for mobility-impaired guests plus one companion. If you require other special accommodations, please contact the Manager on Duty at least 48 hours in advance of the concert at (831) 423-5590. “

Over 100 of the top yo-yo competitors will compete in the 20th Annual Bay Area Classic Yo Yo Contest on Saturday, June 3, 2017, from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. The free to view Contest will be held at the Children’s Discovery Museum.

The 33rd Annual Santa Cruz Longboard Union Longboard Invitational is this weekend, May 27-28, 2017.
Nearly 200 Longboarders take over Steamer Lane each Memorial Day weekend to compete in the longest-running longboard surf contest on the West Coast.

Free admission to the Wings of History Air Museum on Saturday, May 20 from 7:30 am to 3:30 pm. See various airplanes (including antique, modern and Warbirds), antique cars, antique farm equipment, steam engines and hot air balloons.

“Jane’s Walks are free, locally organized walking tours, in which people get together to explore, talk about and celebrate their neighborhoods. Where more traditional tours are a bit like walking lectures, a Jane’s Walk is more of a walking conversation. Leaders share their knowledge, but also encourage discussion and participation among the walkers.”

Walks include:

Illuminating Downtown — May 5, 8:00 PM, 1.5 Hours
The walk includes interacting with illuminated artworks.
Meet at the east side of the parking lot under the 87 underpass along Santa Clara. The walk will begin at 8pm.

A beginner’s guide to downtown San Jose — May 6, 2:00 PM, 1 Hour
A walk that starts at the Diridon Station, past the Shark Tank, and through downtown, to check out restaurants, bars, and other interestingl places.
Meet outside the train station near the car turnaround.

I Wish Downtown San Jose Had…
May 6, 10:00 AM, 1 Hour
May 6, 4:00 PM, 1 Hour
May 7, 1:00 PM, 1 Hour
Walk around downtown and discuss the opportunities, potential and future of what you wish downtown had.
Meet at the base of the San Pedro Square sign.

Parking is available on Pilkington Avenue or in surrounding streets. From April-September you must get a free parking permit from inside the Museum to park on the museum-side of Pilkington Ave.
Public transit — Santa Cruz Metro.

“This is a day for the people who make up the world of the record store—the staff, the customers, and the artists—to come together and celebrate the unique culture of a record store and the special role these independently owned stores play in their communities. Special vinyl and CD releases and various promotional products are made exclusively for the day. Festivities include performances, cook-outs, body painting, meet & greets with artists, parades, DJs spinning records.”

The artists releasing special vinyls include Madonna, John Coltrane, Bob Dylan, The Kinks, Willie Nelson, David Bowie, and others.

Participating Stores (Not all of the stores will choose to participate in all promotions, or carry all releases. Call store!):